Notes on Certain Maya and Mexican Manuscripts Part 1

Notes on Certain Maya and Mexican Ma.n.u.scripts.

by Cyrus Thomas.

"TABLEAU DES BACAB."

Having recently come into possession of Leon de Rosny's late work ent.i.tled "_Les Doc.u.ments ecrits de l'Antiquite Americaine_,"[1] I find in it a photo-lithographic copy of two plates (or rather one plate, for the two are but parts of one) of the Maya Ma.n.u.script known as the _Codex Cortesia.n.u.s_. This plate (I shall speak of the two as one) is of so much importance in the study of the Central American symbols and calendar systems that I deem it worthy of special notice; more particularly so as it furnishes a connecting link between the Maya and Mexican symbols and calendars.

This plate (Nos. 8 and 9 in Rosny's work), is ent.i.tled by Rosny "_Tableau des Bacab_" or "Plate of the Bacabs," he supposing it to be a representation of the G.o.ds of the four cardinal points, an opinion I believe to be well founded.

As will be seen by reference to our Plate No. 1, which is an exact copy from Rosny's work, this page consists of three divisions: _First_, an inner quadrilateral s.p.a.ce, in which there are a kind of cross or sacred tree; two sitting figures, one of which is a female, and six characters.

_Second_, a narrow s.p.a.ce or belt forming a border to the inner area, from which it is separated by a single line; it is separated from the outer s.p.a.ce by a double line. This s.p.a.ce contains the characters for the twenty days of the Maya month, but not arranged in consecutive order.

_Third_, an outer and larger s.p.a.ce containing several figures and numerous characters, the latter chiefly those representing the Maya days. This area consists of two distinct parts, one part containing day characters, grouped together at the four corners, and connected by rows of dots running from one group to the other along the outer border; the other part consisting of four groups of figures, one group opposite each of the four sides. In each of the four compartments containing these last-mentioned groups, there is one of the four characters shown in Fig.

1 (_a_ _b_ _c_ _d_), which, in my "Study of the Ma.n.u.script Troano," I have concluded represent the four cardinal points, a conclusion also reached independently by Rosny and Schultz Sellack.[TN-1]

Before entering upon the discussion of this plate I will insert here Rosny's comment, that the reader may have an opportunity of comparing his view of its signification with the opinion I shall advance.

I intend to close this report with some observations on the criticisms which have been written since the publication of my "Essay on the Decipherment of the Hieratic Writings," as much, regarding the first data, for which we are indebted to Diego de Landa, as that of the method to follow in order to realize new progress in the interpretation of the Katounic texts. I will be permitted, however, before approaching this discussion, to say a word on two leaves of the _Codex Cortesia.n.u.s_, which not only confirm several of my former lectures, but which furnish us probably a more than ordinarily interesting doc.u.ment relative to the religious history of ancient Yucatan.

The two leaves require to be presented synoptically, as I have done in reproducing them on the plate [8 and 9[2]], for it is evident that they form together one single representation.

This picture presents four divisions, in the middle of which is seen a representation of the sacred tree; beneath are the figures of two personages seated on the ground and placed facing the katounes, among which the sign of the day _Ik_ is repeated three times on the right side and once with two other signs on the left side. The central image is surrounded by a sort of framing in which have been traced the twenty cyclic characters of the calendar. Some of these characters would not be recognizable if one possessed only the data of Landa, but they are henceforth easy to read, for I have had occasion to determine, after a certain fashion, the value of the greater part of them in a former publication.

These characters are traced in the following order, commencing, for example, with Muluc and continuing from left to right: 6, 2, 18, 13, 17, 14, 5, 1, 16, 12, 8, 4, 20, 15, 11, 7, 19, 3, 9, 10. * * *

In the four compartments of the Tablet appear the same cyclic signs again in two series. I will not stop to dwell upon them, not having discovered the system of their arrangement.

Besides these cyclic signs no other katounes are found on the Tablet, except four groups which have attracted my attention since the beginning of my studies, and which I have presented, not without some hesitation, as serving to note the four cardinal points. I do not consider my first attempt at interpretation as definitely demonstrated, but it seems to me that it acquires by the study of the pages in question of the _Codex Cortesia.n.u.s_, a new probability of exact.i.tude.

These four katounic groups are here in fact arranged in the following manner:

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 1.--The four cardinal symbols.]

Now, not only do these groups include, as I have explained, several of the phonetic elements of Maya words known to designate the four cardinal points, but they occupy, besides, the place which is necessary to them in the arrangement (orientation), to wit:

West.

S N o o u r t t h h . .

East.

I have said, moreover, in my _Essay_, that certain characteristic symbols of the G.o.ds of the four cardinal points (the _Bacab_) are found placed beside the katounic groups, which occcpy[TN-2] me at this moment, in a manner which gives a new confirmation of my interpretation.

On Plates 23, 24, 25, and 26 of the _Codex Cortesia.n.u.s_, where the same groups and symbols are seen reproduced of which I have just spoken, the hierogrammat has drawn four figures identical in shape and dress. These four figures represent the "G.o.d of the long nose."

Beside the first, who holds in his hand a flaming torch, appears a series of katounes, at the head of which is the sign _Kan_ (symbol of the south), and above, a defaced group. Beside the second, who holds a flaming torch inverted, is the sign _Muluc_ (symbol of the east), and above, the group which I have interpreted as east. At the side of the third, who carries in the left hand the burning torch inverted and a scepter (symbol of Bacabs), is the sign _Ix_ (symbol of the north), and above, the group which I have translated as north. Finally, beside the fourth, who carries in his left hand the flaming torch inverted and a hatchet in the right hand, is the sign _Cauac_ (symbol of the west), and above, not the entire group, which I have translated as west, but the first sign of this group, and also an animal characteristic of the Occident, which has been identified with the armadillo. I have some doubts upon the subject of this animal, but its affinity with the qualification of the west appears to me at least very probable.

We see from this quotation, that Rosny was unable to give any explanation of the day characters, dots, and L-shaped symbols in the outer s.p.a.ce; also that he was unable to suggest any reason for the peculiar arrangement of the day symbols in the intermediate circle or quadrilateral. His suggestions are limited to the four characters placed opposite the four sides, and which, he believes, and I think correctly, to be the symbols of the four cardinal points. Whether his conclusion as to the points they respectively refer to be correct or not, is one of the questions I propose to discuss in this paper. But before entering upon this, the most important question regarding the plate, I desire first to offer what I believe will be admitted to be a correct explanation of the object and uses of the day symbols, dots, &c., in the outer s.p.a.ce, and the intermediate circle of day characters.

If we examine carefully the day characters and large black dots in the outer s.p.a.ce we shall find that all taken together really form but _one continuous line_, making one outward and two inward bends or loops at each corner.

For example, commencing with _Cauac_ (No. 31) (see scheme of the plate, Fig. 2), on the right side, and running upward toward the top along the row of dots next the right-hand margin, we reach the character _Chuen_ (No. 32); just above is _Eb_ (No. 33); then running inward toward the center, along the row of dots to _Kan_ (No. 34); then upward to _Chicchan_ (No. 35); then outward along the row of dots toward the outer corner to _Caban_ (No. 36); then to the left to _Ezanab_ (No. 37); then inward to _Oc_ (No. 38); then to the left to _Chuen_ (No. 39); outward to _Akbal_ (No. 40), and so on around.

Before proceeding further it is necessary that I introduce here a Maya calendar, in order that my next point may be clearly understood. To simplify this as far as possible, I give first a table for a single _Cauac_ year, in two forms, one as the ordinary counting-house calendar (Table I), the other a simple continuous list of days (Table II), but in this latter case only for thirteen months, just what is necessary to complete the circuit of our plate.

As explained in my former paper[3], although there were twenty days in each Maya month, each day with its own particular name, and always following each other in the same order, so that each month would begin with the same day the year commenced with, yet it was the custom to number the days up to 13 and then commence again with 1, 2, 3, and so on, thus dividing the year into weeks of thirteen days each.

For a full explanation of this complicated calendar system I must refer the reader to my former paper. But at present we shall need only an understanding of the tables here given. I shall, as I proceed, refer to Table I, leaving the reader who prefers to do so to refer to the list of days marked Table II, as they are precisely the same thing, only differing in form.

TABLE I.--_Maya calendar for one year_

__________________________________________________________________ Nos. of the months. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 ------------+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-- Cauac 1 8 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 7 1 8 2 9 3 Ahau 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 7 1 8 2 9 3 10 4 Ymix 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 7 1 8 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 Ik 4 11 5 12 6 13 7 1 8 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 Akbal 5 12 6 13 7 1 8 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 7 Kan 6 13 7 1 8 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 7 1 8 Chicchan 7 1 8 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 7 1 8 2 9 Cimi 8 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 7 1 8 2 9 3 10 Manik 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 7 1 8 2 9 3 10 4 11 Lamat 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 7 1 8 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 Muluc 11 5 12 6 13 7 1 8 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 Oc 12 6 13 7 1 8 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 7 1 Chuen 13 7 1 8 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 7 1 8 2 Eb 1 8 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 7 1 8 2 9 3 Been 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 7 1 8 2 9 3 10 4 Ix 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 7 1 8 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 Men 4 11 5 12 6 13 7 1 8 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 Cib 5 12 6 13 7 1 8 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 7 Caban 6 13 7 1 8 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 7 1 8 Ezanab 7 1 8 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 7 1 8 2 9 ------------------------------------------------------------------

TABLE II.

1ST MONTH. 2D MONTH. 3D MONTH. 4TH MONTH.

1. _Cauac._ 8. Cauac. 2. Cauac. 9. Cauac.

2. Ahau. 9. Ahau. 3. Ahau. 10. Ahau.

3. Imix.[TN-3] 10. Ymix. 4. Ymix. 11. Ymix.

4. Ik. 11. Ik. 5. Ik. 12. Ik.

5. Akbal. 12. Akbal. 6. Akbal. 13. _Akbal._ 6. Kan. 13. _Kan._ 7. Kan. 1. _Kan._ 7. Chicchan. 1. _Chicchan._ 8. Chicchan. 2. Chicchan.

8. Cimi. 2. Cimi. 9. Cimi. 3. Cimi.

9. Manik. 3. Manik. 10. Manik. 4. Manik.

10. Lamat. 4. Lamat. 11. Lamat. 5. Lamat.

11. Muluc. 5. Muluc. 12. Muluc. 6. Muluc.

12. Oc. 6. Oc. 13. _Oc._ 7. Oc.

13. _Chuen._ 7. Chuen. 1. _Chuen._ 8. Chuen.

1. _Eb._ 8. Eb. 2. Eb. 9. Eb.

2. Been. 9. Been. 3. Been. 10. Been.

3. Ix. 10. Ix. 4. Ix. 11. Ix.

4. Men. 11. Men. 5. Men. 12. Men.

5. Cib. 12. Cib. 6. Cib. 13. _Cib._ 6. Caban. 13. _Caban._ 7. Caban. 1. _Caban._ 7. Ezanab. 1. _Ezanab._ 8. Ezanab. 2. Ezanab.

5TH MONTH. 6TH MONTH. 7TH MONTH. 8TH MONTH.

3. Cauac. 10. Cauac. 4. Cauac. 11. Cauac.

4. Ahau. 11. Ahau. 5. Ahau. 12. Ahau.

5. Ymix. 12. Ymix. 6. Ymix. 13. _Ymix._ 6. Ik. 13. _Ik._ 7. Ik. 1. _Ik._ 7. Akbal. 1. _Akbal._ 8. Akbal. 2. Akbal.

8. Kan. 2. Kan. 9. Kan. 3. Kan.

9. Chicchan. 3. Chicchan. 10. Chicchan. 4. Chicchan.

10. Cimi. 4. Cimi. 11. Cimi. 5. Cimi.

11. Manik. 5. Manik. 12. Manik. 6. Manik.

12. Lamat. 6. Lamat. 13. _Lamat._ 7. Lamat.

13. _Muluc._ 7. Muluc. 1. _Muluc._ 8. Muluc.

1. _Oc._ 8. Oc. 2. Oc. 9. Oc.

2. Chuen. 9. Chuen. 3. Chuen. 10. Chuen.

3. Eb. 10. Eb. 4. Eb. 11. Eb.

4. Been. 11. Been. 5. Been. 12. Been.

5. Ix. 12. Ix. 6. Ix. 13. _Ix._ 6. Men. 13. _Men._ 7. Men. 1. _Men._ 7. Cib. 1. _Cib._ 8. Cib. 2. Cib.

8. Caban. 2. Caban. 9. Caban. 3. Caban.

9. Ezanab. 3. Ezanab. 10. Ezanab. 4. Ezanab.